The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-10-13

IT is recommended that the law govern
ing the taxation of private banks be
carefully revised, so as to prevent such
manifest injustice. Tue incorporated
banks of the State naturally thinK this is
wrong, and they have accordingly been
resorting TO the courts for relief against
1T, and in almost all cases with success,
the courts having held that Inequalities
should be relieved against. A number
of such suits are now pending in the
northern part of the State. In an i'm
portant sense they involve the entire tax
duplicate, for they have been Instituted
as test cases, and If successful, the result
will be to lessen the tax valuation of our
property many millions of dollars, and
throw our whole system into such cont
fusion as to produce the most embarrass-
| ing consequences.
The Attorney General, with the ap-
proval of the Governor and State Audi
tor, has employed local counsel to repre-
sent the State in these suits, and every
thing possible will be done to successfully
defend them. An appropriation should
| be made to defray the expenses OF such
defense, including counsel fees.
| 1t is obvious that SO long as the present
valuation of
| REAL ESTATE
stands, great injustice will be done to all
whose property is even approximately
correctly valued, and the State will con-
time unable to meet the public demands
without embarrassment.
1t is recommended, therefore, that q
RETALIATION
be had at once instead of waiting for the
next decennial valuation in 1880. In
order that this may be done in such g
way as to secure full and fair appraise.
ment it is recommended that there be
constituted
STATE BOARD oF EQUALIZATION,
consisting of eight members, not more
than four of whom shall be of the same
political party, TO be appointed by SONS
suitable authority from the electors ol
the State, to hold their office for q fixel
term, and whose duty II shall be to
super wise, as we'll as revise and equalizt
the valuations to be made. The number
mentioned is thought to be large enough
to enable each of the leading industrle.
of the State to be represented, and al
the same time not to large for efficient
action.
IL is also thought that men so selected
will have the interests of the whole Stats
more In mind, than il they should be
elected to represent some particular
district or locality, in which case exper.
ience has shown they are too apt to acl
| "a, hS 70
cure the lowest possible valuation fol
their respective constituencies.
II 1t ia further recommended that the
duties of equalization now devolYed up
on the Governor. Attorney General ant
State Auditor, as to bank shares, an(
upon the Attorney General, Treasurer o
State. and State Auditor, as to railroads
be transferred to and imposed upon thi
; Board; that there be, in short, one ant
the same State Board, and one only, TO
, the equalization of all CLASSES of pro
perty.
, It is further recommended that in al
cities having Board of Tax Commis
sioners, it be made the duty of sue
J Board to appoint all the assessors an
appraisers.
1t is confidently believed that IL sue
? legislation can be had as ia here attempt
i ed to be Indicated, the tax duplicate ca
3 be increased so as to approximate ou
{ real wealth, and that valuation can be q
8 equalized as to secure uniformity an
l Justice for the whole State, and that th
: rate of taxation can be- lessened to tn
8 great benefit of all, while the State wi
= be afforded abundant revenue.
Respectfully submitted,
J.B FORAKER. Governor.